Author(s): Terry Carson

NZ Non Fiction

The Family Court is New Zealand's most controversial and criticised court of law. It presides over the personal tragedies and family breakdowns of ordinary New Zealanders and enforces laws that often appear to arise out of political desires for social engineering, rather than any search for simple justice. It is frequently accused of gender bias and until very recently operated under an almost total veil of secrecy. However, it is the court that more law abiding New Zealanders are likely to come in contact with than any other. The Family Court makes decisions that affect the lives of New Zealanders, both adult and child, when they are at their most emotionally vulnerable. Litigation is always a bruising, expensive and emotionally draining experience. If you have the misfortune to end up involved in Family Court litigation the process will be much easier if you have some prior knowledge of how the Court operates, what to expect and how to navigate through the minefields of legal procedure.